U.S. patent number 10,116,097 [Application Number 15/786,808] was granted by the patent office on 2018-10-30 for shield terminal and outer conductor terminal.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Keita Nakashima.
United States Patent |
10,116,097 |
Nakashima |
October 30, 2018 |
Shield terminal and outer conductor terminal
Abstract
A shield terminal (10) includes an inner conductor terminal
(11), dielectrics (12, 13) configured to accommodate the inner
conductor terminal (11), an outer conductor terminal (20)
configured to surround the dielectrics (12, 13), a tubular fitting
(30) formed in a front end part of the outer conductor terminal
(20) in an axial direction, and resilient contacts (31) formed in
the tubular fitting (30) and having both front and rear ends
integrally connected to the tubular fitting (30). The tubular
fitting (30) has interlocking regions (39) surrounding only front
end parts (31F) of the resilient contacts (31) and connected to
front ends of the resilient contacts (31) are radially resiliently
deflectable with front end sides thereof as free ends.
Inventors: |
Nakashima; Keita (Mie,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. |
Yokkaichi, Mie |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
(JP)
|
Family
ID: |
61971062 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/786,808 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180115115 A1 |
Apr 26, 2018 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 21, 2016 [JP] |
|
|
2016-206655 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
4/184 (20130101); H01R 4/185 (20130101); H01R
24/44 (20130101); H01R 13/111 (20130101); H01R
13/4364 (20130101); H01R 4/188 (20130101); H01R
9/0518 (20130101); H01R 13/6581 (20130101); H01R
13/642 (20130101); H01R 2103/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
11/20 (20060101); H01R 13/6581 (20110101); H01R
4/18 (20060101); H01R 9/05 (20060101); H01R
13/436 (20060101); H01R 13/642 (20060101); H01R
24/44 (20110101) |
Field of
Search: |
;439/394,731,467,825 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Phuong Chi T
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hespos; Gerald E. Porco; Michael J.
Hespos; Matthew T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shield terminal, comprising: an inner conductor terminal; a
dielectric configured to accommodate the inner conductor terminal;
an outer conductor terminal configured to surround the dielectric;
a tubular fitting formed in a front end part of the outer conductor
terminal in an axial direction; a resilient contact having a rear
end in the axial direction integrally connected to the tubular
fitting; and an interlocking region connected to the front end of
the resilient contact and to areas of the tubular fitting offset
circumferentially from the resilient contact so that the
interlocking region is radially resiliently deflectable with a
front end thereof being a free end, wherein the tubular fitting is
formed with a non-interlocking region offset from the resilient
contact in a circumferential direction and spaced from the
interlocking region in the circumferential direction by a slit.
2. The shield terminal of claim 1, wherein the resilient contact
includes: a contact configured to contact an outer periphery of a
mating outer conductor with the tubular fitting properly fit to the
mating outer conductor; a front inclined portion inclined radially
out toward the front from the contact and configured such that a
leading end part of the mating outer conductor is brought into
sliding contact therewith; and a rear inclined portion inclined
radially outward toward the rear from the contact and having a
larger angle of inclination with respect to a fitting direction to
the mating outer conductor than the front inclined portion.
3. The shield terminal of claim 2, wherein a rear end of the slit
is located before a rear end of the rear inclined portion.
4. An outer conductor terminal of a shield terminal, the outer
conductor terminal surrounding a dielectric that has an inner
conductor terminal accommodated inside, the outer conductor
terminal comprising: a tubular fitting in a front end part in an
axial direction, the tubular fitting; a resilient contact having a
rear end in the axial direction of the outer conductor terminal
integrally connected to the tubular fitting; and an interlocking
region connected to a front end of the resilient contact and
connected to front end areas of the tubular fitting that are
circumferentially offset from the resilient contact, the
interlocking region being radially resiliently deformable with a
front end thereof as a free end, wherein the tubular fitting is
formed with a non-interlocking region offset from the resilient
contact in a circumferential direction and spaced from the
interlocking region in the circumferential direction by a slit.
Description
BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a shield terminal and an outer conductor
terminal.
Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-187826 discloses a
shield terminal with an inner conductor terminal to be fixed to a
signal conductor of a shielded cable and an outer conductor
terminal to be fixed to a shield conductor of the shielded cable.
The outer conductor terminal has a fitting tube to be fit to an
outer conductor terminal of a mating shield terminal. The fitting
tube is formed with a resilient contact piece by cutting and
raising a part of the fitting tube toward an inner peripheral side,
and this resilient contact piece resiliently contacts the outer
periphery of the mating outer conductor terminal.
The resilient contact piece of the fitting tube is cantilevered
toward the mating outer conductor. Thought has been given to
connecting both axial ends of the resilient contact piece to the
fitting tube in an effort to enhance contact pressure of the
resilient contact piece. However, the contact pressure of a
resilient contact piece that has both ends connected to the fitting
tube is excessively high as compared to the resilient contact piece
supported on only one end. The contact pressure of the resilient
contact piece supported on both ends could be reduced by thinning,
narrowing or lengthening the resilient contact piece. However, a
thinning or narrowing the resilient contact piece is difficult and
costly to manufacture. Further, a longer resilient contact piece
enlarges the outer conductor terminal in the axial direction.
The invention was completed based on the above situation and aims
to suppress a contact pressure of a resilient contact portion
without changing the shape, dimension or the like of the resilient
contact portion when the resilient contact portion of an outer
conductor terminal is supported on both ends.
SUMMARY
The invention is directed to a shield terminal with an inner
conductor terminal, a dielectric configured to accommodate the
inner conductor terminal, an outer conductor terminal configured to
surround the dielectric, a tubular fitting formed in a front part
of the outer conductor terminal in an axial direction, and a
resilient contact formed in the tubular fitting. The resilient
contact has both front and rear ends in the axial direction of the
outer conductor terminal integrally connected to the tubular
fitting. An interlocking region surrounds only a front end part of
the resilient contact and is connected to a front end of the
resilient contact. The interlocking region is radially resiliently
deflectable and has a free front end.
The invention also is directed to an outer conductor terminal of a
shield terminal. The outer conductor terminal surrounds a
dielectric that has an inner conductor terminal accommodated
inside. A front part of the outer conductor terminal has a tubular
fitting formed with a resilient contact that has front and rear
ends in the axial direction of the outer conductor terminal
integrally connected to the tubular fitting. The front end of the
tubular fitting has an interlocking region connected to a front end
of the resilient contact portion and to areas of the tubular
fitting offset circumferentially from the resilient contact in each
circumferential direction so that the interlocking region is
radially resiliently deformable with a front end thereof defining a
free end.
The interlocking region of the tubular fitting is connected to the
front end of the resilient contact and resiliently deforms radially
with the resilient contact when the resilient contact portion is
deformed resiliently by being pressed radially. A stress generated
in the resilient contact portion is alleviated by the resilient
deformation of the interlocking region. Thus, a contact pressure of
the resilient contact portion can be reduced without changing the
shape, dimension or the like of the resilient contact portion.
The tubular fitting may be formed with a non-interlocking region.
The non-interlocking region is offset from the resilient contact
portion in a circumferential direction and is separated from the
interlocking region in the circumferential direction by a slit.
According to this configuration, when an external matter interferes
with the tubular fitting from the front, an impact of interference
is distributed to both the interlocking region and the
non-interlocking region. Thus, improper deformation of the
interlocking region can be avoided.
The resilient contact may include a contact configured to contact
an outer periphery of a mating outer conductor when the tubular
fitting is fit properly to the mating outer conductor. A front
inclined portion may incline radially out toward the front from the
contact and may be configured so that a leading end part of the
mating outer conductor slides in contact therewith. A rear inclined
portion may incline radially out toward the rear from the contact
and may have a larger angle of inclination with respect to a
fitting direction to the mating outer conductor than the front
inclined portion. According to this configuration, when the leading
end of the mating outer conductor slides in contact with the front
inclined portion and the resilient contact is pressed rearward, an
area of the resilient contact where the front inclined portion and
the rear inclined portion are formed resiliently deforms radially
inward with the rear end of the rear inclined portion as a support.
When the interlocking region is displaced resiliently radially
inward according to this resilient deformation of the resilient
contact, a width of the slit between the interlocking region and
the non-interlocking region narrows. Thus, a reduction in shielding
function due to the presence of the slit can be suppressed.
A rear end of the slit may be located before a rear end of the rear
inclined portion. According to this configuration, a radially
inward resilient displacement amount of the interlocking region is
larger as compared to the case where the rear end of the slit is
located behind the rear end of the rear inclined portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a shield terminal of one
embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the shield terminal.
FIG. 3 is a section along X-X of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a front view of an outer conductor terminal.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the outer conductor terminal.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the outer conductor terminal.
FIG. 7 is a section along Y-Y of FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is a partial enlarged section schematically showing a state
where the fitting of a tubular fitting portion and a mating outer
conductor is started.
FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged section schematically showing a state
where a leading end edge of a mating outer conductor is in contact
with a resilient contact piece in the process of fitting the
tubular fitting portion and the mating outer conductor.
FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged section schematically showing a state
where the leading end edge of the mating outer conductor slides in
contact with the resilient contact piece in the process of fitting
the tubular fitting portion and the mating outer conductor.
FIG. 11 is a partial enlarged section schematically showing a state
where the leading end edge of the mating outer conductor has
reached a contact point portion in the process of fitting the
tubular fitting portion and the mating outer conductor.
FIG. 12 is a partial enlarged section schematically showing a state
where the tubular fitting portion and the mating outer conductor
are properly fit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
One specific embodiment of the present invention is described with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. Note that, in the following
description, an oblique left-lower side in FIG. 1 and a left side
in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 to 12 are defined as a front side concerning a
front-rear direction. Upper and lower sides shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4
and 5 are directly defined as upper and lower sides concerning a
vertical direction.
A shielded cable (not shown) as a connection target of a shield
terminal 10 is formed such that an inner conductor having an axial
direction extending in the front-rear direction is surrounded by a
hollow cylindrical insulating layer, the outer periphery of the
insulating layer is surrounded by a shield conductor formed of a
braided wire and the shield connector is surrounded by an
insulating sheath. A rear end part of the shield terminal 10 is
conductively connected to a front end part of the shielded
cable.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the shield terminal 10 includes an inner
conductor terminal 11 substantially in the form of a tube long and
narrow in the front-rear direction, a first dielectric 12 and a
second dielectric 13 made of synthetic resin for accommodating the
inner conductor terminal 11, an outer conductor terminal 20 for
surrounding the dielectrics and a shield member 14 to be mounted on
the outer conductor terminal 20. The inner conductor terminal 11 is
conductively fixed to an inner conductor of the shielded cable.
The outer conductor terminal 20 is a single component made of metal
and including a first crimping portion 21, a second crimping
portion 24, a linking portion 27 and a tubular fitting portion 30.
The first crimping portion 21 is disposed on a rear end part of the
outer conductor terminal 20 and in the form of an open barrel
having a pair of first caulking pieces 23 extending from both left
and right sides of a first base plate portion 22. The first
crimping portion 21 is fixed to the outer periphery of the sheath
of the shielded cable. The second crimping portion 24 is connected
to a front end part of the first crimping portion 21 and in the
form of an open barrel having a pair of second caulking pieces 26
extending from both left and right sides of a second base plate
portion 25. The second crimping portion 24 is fixed to the shield
conductor of the shielded cable. The linking portion 27 includes a
pair of left and right side plates 28. Rear end parts of the pair
of side plates 28 are connected to the front end edges of the pair
of caulking pieces 26, and front end parts of the pair of side
plates 28 are linked to both left and right side edge parts in the
rear end part of the tubular fitting portion 30.
The tubular fitting portion 30 has a hollow cylindrical shape
having an axial direction extending in the front-rear direction as
a whole and is disposed on a front end part of the outer conductor
terminal 20. The first dielectric 12 has a tubular shape and is
mounted in the outer conductor terminal 20 while being accommodated
in the tubular fitting portion 30. The shield member 14 is a single
component made of metal and formed by connecting a cover portion 16
on the rear end of a tubular portion 15. The tubular second
dielectric 13 is accommodated in a tubular member. The shield
member 14 is conductively mounted on the outer conductor terminal
20 with the tubular portion 15 accommodated in the linking portion
27 and the cover portion 16 externally fit on the second crimping
portion 14. By mounting the shield member 14, upper and lower
openings of the linking portion 27 are closed to improve a
shielding function of the outer conductor terminal 20. The inner
conductor terminal 11 is accommodated inside the first and second
dielectrics 12, 13.
A hollow cylindrical mating outer conductor 42 is fit into the
tubular fitting portion 30 from front. In a fit state, the mating
outer conductor 42 is fit into a clearance between the outer
periphery of the first dielectric 12 and the inner periphery of the
tubular fitting portion 30. The tubular fitting portion 30 is
integrally formed with two pairs of resilient contact portions 31
capable of resiliently contacting the outer periphery of the mating
outer conductor 42. The resilient contact portions 31 resiliently
contact the outer periphery of the mating outer conductor 42,
whereby the outer conductor terminal 20 and the mating outer
conductor 42 are conductively connected with a predetermined
contact pressure.
The two pairs of resilient contact portions 31 are bilaterally
symmetrically disposed on both left and right side surface parts of
the tubular fitting portion 30. Two resilient contact portions 31
paired on a left side of the tubular fitting portion 30 are
respectively formed to extend long and narrow in the front-rear
direction (direction parallel to a fitting direction of the outer
conductor 20 and the mating outer conductor 42) and arranged side
by side in a circumferential direction (vertical direction). Two
resilient contact portions 31 paired on a right side of the tubular
fitting portion 30 are also respectively formed to extend long and
narrow in the front-rear direction (direction parallel to the
fitting direction of the outer conductor 20 and the mating outer
conductor 42) and arranged side by side in the circumferential
direction (vertical direction).
Each resilient contact portion 31 is formed by forming cut portions
32 long and narrow in the front-rear direction in the tubular
fitting portion 30. Specifically, areas between three juxtaposed
cut portions 32 of the tubular fitting portion 30 serve as the
paired two resilient contact portions 31. Each resilient contact
portion 31 is supported on both ends by having the front and rear
ends thereof directly linked to the tubular fitting portion 30 and
resiliently displaceable toward radially outer and inner sides.
The resilient contact portion 31 is composed of a bent region 33
and a straight region 37. The bent region 33 constitutes a front
end part of the resilient contact portion 31 and the straight
region 37 constitutes a part of the resilient contact portion 31
behind the bent region 33. A dimension of the bent region 33 in the
front-rear direction is shorter than that of the straight region 37
in the front-rear direction. Thus, the rear end of the bent region
33 is located before a center of the resilient contact portion 31
in the front-rear direction (length direction). As shown in FIGS. 3
and 7, the bent region 33 projects more radially inward than the
inner peripheral surface of the tubular fitting portion 30 and the
straight region 37 extends straight in the front-rear direction
when the resilient contact portion 31 is in a free state without
being resiliently deformed.
A most radially inwardly projecting part of the bent region 33
serves as a contact point portion 34 configured to come into
contact with the outer periphery of the mating outer conductor 42
when the tubular fitting portion 30 is properly fit to the mating
outer conductor 42. The contact point portion 34 is located before
the center of the resilient contact portion 31 in the front-rear
direction (length direction of the resilient contact portion 31)
and behind a center of the bent region 33 in the front-rear
direction.
An area of the bent region 33 between the front end of the
resilient contact portion 31 (bent region 33) and the contact point
portion 34 serves as a front inclined portion 35 inclined radially
outwardly toward the front end of the resilient contact portion 31
from the contact point portion 34. In the process of fitting the
outer conductor terminal 20 and the mating outer conductor 42, a
leading end edge of the mating outer conductor 42 slides in contact
with the inner surface of the front inclined portion 35. By this
sliding contact, a rearward pressing force and a radially outward
pressing force act on the bent region 33.
An area of the bent region 33 between the contact point portion 34
and the rear end of the bent region 33 (front end of the straight
region 37) serves as a rear inclined portion 36 inclined radially
outwardly toward the rear end of the bent region 33 from the
contact point portion 34. An angle of inclination of the rear
inclined portion 36 with respect to the front-rear direction is
larger than that of the front inclined portion 35 with respect to
the front-rear direction. A dimension of the rear inclined portion
36 in the front-rear direction is smaller than that of the front
inclined portion 35 in the front-rear direction.
The tubular fitting portion 30 is formed with two pairs of left and
right slits 38 extending rearward from the front end edge thereof.
The slits 38 paired on the left side of the tubular fitting portion
30 are positioned at both sides of the paired resilient contact
portions 31 in the circumferential direction (vertical direction).
The slits 38 paired on the right side of the tubular fitting
portion 30 are also positioned at both sides of the paired
resilient contact portions 31 in the circumferential direction
(vertical direction). The front end part of the tubular fitting
portion 30 is divided into four regions, i.e. a pair of bilaterally
symmetrical and arcuate interlocking regions 39 and a pair of upper
and lower arcuate non-interlocking regions 40 by the two pairs of
slits 38.
Each interlocking region 39 is disposed to surround only front end
parts 31F of the pair of resilient contact portions 31 from front
and in the circumferential direction (vertical direction). Only the
front end of the resilient contact portion 31, out of both front
and rear ends, is connected to the interlocking region 39. Further,
the rear end of the interlocking region 39 (rear end 38R of the
slit 38) is disposed at a position corresponding to the bent
regions 33 in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the rear end
of the interlocking region 39 is disposed at a positon
corresponding to the front inclined portion 35, in other words, at
a position slightly before the contact point portion 34. As just
described, only an area of the front inclined portion 35 excluding
a rear end part is included in the front end part 31F of the
resilient contact portion 31 surrounded by the interlocking region
39. Note that the resilient contact portions 31 are not included in
the interlocking region 39.
The interlocking region 39 is a part constituting the front end
part of the tubular fitting portion 30 and cantilevered forward.
The front ends of the resilient contact portions 31 are connected
to the interlocking region 39. Thus, when the resilient contact
portions 31, particularly the bent regions 33, are resiliently
deformed in a radial or axial direction by receiving an external
force in the radial direction or axial direction (front-rear
direction), the interlocking region 39 is resiliently displaceable
in the radial direction with the rear end thereof as a supporting
point in conjunction with the resilient deformation.
An area of the tubular fitting portion 30 behind the interlocking
regions 39 and the non-interlocking regions 40 serves as a tubular
body portion 41. Since the tubular body portion 41 has a hollow
cylindrical shape continuous over the entire circumference, even if
the interlocking regions 39 are resiliently deformed in the radial
direction, the tubular body portion 41 is hardly resiliently
deformed. The rear ends of the resilient contact portions 31 are
linked to this tubular body portion 41. Further, since the
non-interlocking regions 40 are not directly linked to the
resilient contact portions 31, the non-interlocking regions 40 are
hardly resiliently deformed even if the interlocking regions 39 are
resiliently deformed.
Next, functions of this embodiment are described. When the fitting
of the tubular fitting portion 30 (outer conductor terminal 20) and
the mating outer conductor 42 is started as shown in FIG. 8, the
leading end edge of the mating outer conductor 42 comes into
contact with the inner surfaces of the front inclined portions 35
as shown in FIG. 9. When the fitting operation progresses from this
state and the leading end edge of the mating outer conductor 42
slides in contact with the inner surfaces of the front inclined
portions 35 as shown in FIG. 10, the bent regions 33 receive a
pressing force in the axial direction from front and, at the same
time, receives a radially outward (downward in FIGS. 8 to 12)
pressing force due to frictional resistance between the front
inclined portions 35 and the mating outer conductor 42 and the
inclination of the inner surfaces of the front inclined portions
35.
By this radially outward pressing force, the bent regions 33 are
entirely resiliently displaced radially outwardly as shown in FIG.
10. According to this resilient displacement of the bent regions
33, the interlocking regions 39 are resiliently deformed to be
inclined radially outwardly with the rear ends thereof as
supporting points and the straight regions 37 are resiliently
deformed to be inclined radially outwardly with the rear ends
thereof as supporting points.
When the fitting operation of the tubular fitting portion 30 and
the mating outer conductor 42 further progresses from the state
shown in FIG. 10, the leading end edge of the mating outer
conductor 42 reaches the contact point portions 34 as shown in FIG.
11. In a process from the state shown in FIG. 10 to the state shown
in FIG. 11, the straight regions 37 are resiliently displaced to be
further inclined radially outwardly and the bent regions 33 are
further resiliently displaced radially outwardly by the radially
outward pressing force acting on the front inclined portions 35
from the mating outer conductor 42.
When the straight regions 37 and the bent regions 33 are
resiliently displaced radially outwardly, the rear inclined
portions 36 are resiliently displaced rearwardly with the rear ends
thereof as supporting points to reduce an angle to the straight
regions 37 by the axial pressing force acting on the inner surfaces
of the front inclined portions 35 from the mating outer conductor
42. According to this resilient displacement of the rear inclined
portions 36, the bent regions 33 are resiliently displaced
rearwardly and radially inwardly (upwardly in FIGS. 8 to 12). In
this way, the interlocking regions 39 connected to the front ends
of the bent regions 33 are resiliently displaced to be inclined
radially inwardly with the rear ends 38R of the slits 38 as
supporting points by being pulled rearwardly.
In the fitting process of the mating outer conductor 42 and the
tubular fitting portion 30 from the state shown in FIG. 11, the
straight regions 37 are more resiliently displaced radially
outwardly, the rear inclined portions 36 are more resiliently
displaced rearwardly and the bent regions 33 are more resiliently
displaced rearwardly and radially inwardly by the axial pressing
force acting on the contact point portions 34 from the mating outer
conductor 42. Accordingly, the interlocking regions 39 are more
resiliently displaced radially inwardly.
When the mating outer conductor 42 and the tubular fitting portion
30 (outer conductor terminal 20) are fit, not only the resilient
contact portions 31 are resiliently deformed, but also the
interlocking regions 39, which are the front end part of the
tubular fitting portion 30, are resiliently deformed to interlock
with the resilient contact portions 31. Thus, a stress generated in
the tubular fitting portion 30 when the mating outer conductor 42
and the outer conductor terminal 20 are fit is distributed to the
resilient contact portions 31 and the interlocking regions 39. In
this way, a contact pressure between the resilient contact portions
31 and the mating outer conductor 42 is reduced as compared to the
case where only the resilient contact portions 31 are resiliently
deformed.
As described above, the shield terminal 10 of this embodiment aims
to suppress the contact pressure of the resilient contact portions
31 without changing the shape, dimensions and the like of the
resilient contact portions 31 when the resilient contact portions
31 of the outer conductor terminal 20 are supported on both ends.
As a means for that, the shield terminal 10 includes the inner
conductor terminal 11, the first and second dielectrics 12, 13
configured to accommodate the inner conductor terminal 11 and the
outer conductor terminal 20 configured to surround the first and
second dielectrics 12, 13.
The tubular fitting portion 30 is formed in the front end part of
the outer conductor terminal 20 in the axial direction. The tubular
fitting portion 30 is formed with the resilient contact portions 31
supported on both ends and having both front and rear ends thereof
in the axial direction of the outer conductor terminal 20
integrally connected to the tubular fitting portion 30. Out of the
tubular fitting portion 30, the interlocking regions 39 surrounding
only the front end parts 31F of the resilient contact portions 31
and connected to the front ends of the resilient contact portions
31 are radially resiliently deflectable with the front end sides
thereof as free ends.
When the resilient contact portions 31 are resiliently deformed by
being radially pressed, the interlocking regions 39 of the tubular
fitting portion 30 connected to the front ends of the resilient
contact portions 31 interlock with the resilient contact portions
31 and are radially resiliently deformed. Since stresses generated
in the resilient contact portions 31 are alleviated by the
resilient deformation of the interlocking regions 39, the contact
pressures of the resilient contact portions 31 can be reduced
without changing the shape, dimensions and the like of the
resilient contact portions 31.
Further, the tubular fitting portion 30 is formed with the
non-interlocking regions 40 that are areas not corresponding to the
resilient contact portions 31 in the circumferential direction and
adjacent to the interlocking regions 39 in the circumferential
direction via the slits 38. The front end edges of the interlocking
regions 39 and those of the non-interlocking regions 40 are
disposed at the same position in the front-rear direction.
According to this configuration, if an external matter interferes
with the tubular fitting portion 30 from front, an impact of
interference is distributed to both the interlocking regions 39 and
the non-interlocking regions 40. Thus, improper deformation of the
interlocking regions 39 can be avoided.
Further, the resilient contact portion 31 has the bent region 33
composed of the contact point portion 34, the front inclined
portion 35 and the rear inclined portion 36. The contact point
portion 34 contacts the outer periphery of the mating outer
conductor 42 with the tubular fitting portion 30 properly fit to
the mating outer conductor 42. The front inclined portion 35 is
inclined radially outwardly toward the front from the contact point
portion 34, and a leading end part of the mating outer conductor 42
is brought into sliding contact with the front inclined portion 35.
The rear inclined portion 36 is inclined radially outwardly toward
the rear from the contact point portion 34. The angle of
inclination of the rear inclined portion 36 with respect to the
fitting direction of the mating outer conductor 42 and the outer
conductor terminal 20 (tubular fitting portion 30) is larger than
that of the front inclined portion 35 with respect to the fitting
direction.
According to this configuration, when the leading end part of the
mating outer conductor 42 slides in contact with the front inclined
portion 35 and the resilient contact portion 31 is pressed
rearwardly, the bent region 33 formed with the front inclined
portion 35 and the rear inclined portion 36, out of the resilient
contact portion 31, is resiliently deformed radially inwardly with
the rear end of the rear inclined portion 36 substantially as a
supporting point by that pressing force. According to this
resilient deformation of the resilient contact portion 31, the
interlocking region 39 is resiliently displaced radially inwardly.
When the interlocking region 39 is resiliently displaced radially
inwardly, a width of the slit 38 between the interlocking region 39
and the non-interlocking region 40 is narrowed. Thus, a reduction
in shielding function due to the presence of the slit 38 can be
suppressed.
Further, the rear end 38R of the slit 38 is located before the rear
end of the rear inclined portion 36. According to this
configuration, a large radially inward resilient displacement
amount of the interlocking region 39 can be ensured as compared to
the case where the rear end 38R of the slit 38 is located behind
the rear end of the rear inclined portion 36.
The present invention is not limited to the above described and
illustrated embodiment. For example, the following embodiments are
also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
Although the resilient contact portion projects toward the inner
peripheral side in the above embodiment, the resilient contact
portion may project toward the outer peripheral side.
Although the tubular fitting portion is formed with the
non-interlocking regions adjacent to the interlocking regions in
the circumferential direction via the slits in the above
embodiment, the tubular fitting portion may include only the
interlocking regions cantilevered forward without including the
non-interlocking regions.
Although the interlocking region is resiliently deformed to
displace the front end side thereof radially inwardly in the above
embodiment, the interlocking region may be resiliently deformed to
displace the front end side thereof radially outwardly.
Although a pair of resilient contact portions are formed side by
side in one interlocking region in the above embodiment, only one,
three or more resilient contact portions may be formed in one
interlocking region.
Although the rear end of the slit is located slightly before the
contact point portion of the resilient contact portion in the above
embodiment, the rear end of the slit may be positioned behind the
contact point portion or may be at the same position as the contact
point portion in the front-rear direction.
Although the rear end of the slit is located before the rear end of
the rear inclined portion in the above embodiment, the rear end of
the slit may be located behind the rear end of the rear inclined
portion.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
10 . . . shield terminal 11 . . . inner conductor terminal 12 . . .
first dielectric (dielectric) 13 . . . second dielectric
(dielectric) 20 . . . outer conductor terminal 30 . . . tubular
fitting 31 . . . resilient contact 31F . . . front end part of
resilient contact portion 34 . . . contact 35 . . . front inclined
portion 36 . . . rear inclined portion 38 . . . slit 38R . . . rear
end of slit 39 . . . interlocking region 40 . . . non-interlocking
region 42 . . . mating outer conductor
* * * * *